Easter Surprise Straws DIY

March 13, 2013

I saw these fun straws at Target, and before I knew what I was going to do with them I took them home. (Currently in the Target easter section for $3 per canister.) These were going to be put to use, no matter what…. I obviously had to grab some jelly bellies while I was there as well so when I dumped the contents of my Target bag on my table when I got home, it occurred to me that they were made for each other;)

Use straws that are wide enough to slide down your favorite small Easter sweets (3/8 in.).

(Jelly Beans, Tic-Tacs, Nerds, etc.)

Use bright washi tape to cover and seal the ends. Make sure it is sticky enough to stay put.

These are fun to stick in easter straw for a party display or just hide them in deserving Easter Baskets.

Can’t wait to surprise my little ones with these in a few weeks!

You could also use just the green ones filled with green treats for a St. Patrick’s Day DIY.

Some St. Patrick’s Day DIY’s you don’t want to miss:

Pretty much everything on Studio DIY, but especially these Lucky Poppers.

Lindsey of Pillow Thought created an adorable St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt for Small Fry.

One Charming Party created free printables for bags of gold.

Thoughfully simple has an adorable St. Patrick’s breakfast idea for your little ones.

Loved Say Yes to Hoboken’s Shamrock Tea Bag DIY.

Have any St. Patrick’s Day or Easter DIY’s to share? My pinning fingers are ready!

Giveaway: $50 credit to PURSEmafia

March 12, 2013

Colorful patterns and prints galore:)

These gals know how to make a bag fun inside and out. Above are my top favorites from Pursemafia, an etsy shop run my Brigette and Michelle who handmake everything in their shop! From make-up bags to vacation totes, the sizes, patterns, and colors vary to give a fun array of options for different tastes.

PURSEmafia is kindly giving away a $50 credit to spend on any items you like!

Open to international readers. We will draw a winner next Monday night!

If you don’t want to wait around to see if you win, Pursemafia offers a 15% discount for all of their facebook fans.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Family Threads: Weekend Adventures

March 11, 2013

Gabe// Shirt: Gap, Cords: Old Navy
Anna// Shirt: Sheinside, Necklace: c/o Chicpeek, F21, Sunnies: UO, Wrap Bracelet: c/o Iristy
Gabriel// Jacket: Gap, Button down: Old Navy, Jeans: Gap (all consigned)
Veronica// Leggings: Old Navy, Shirt: Carters, Sweater: ON, Shoes: ebay, Headband: madeSpring decided to stay more than 24 hours this weekend so we crammed in as much outdoor time as we could. Everything is an adventure through little sets of eyes…even if its to your local greenhouse.

#WAALove – Things I want to remember:
How enthralled V gets with anything in the sky….birds, planes, and balloons top her list.
The way Gabriel tries to hold her hand whenever we are in public. Except half the time, Veronica would rather pull away and do things independently.
How happy my husband gets when he has time in his yard getting his hands in soil. Its a language I want to know more about. He helped me pick out a few succulents for my kitchen windowsill because.. we both know I can’t kill those.Things I wouldn’t mind forgetting:
How Veronica screams at the top of her lungs anytime we leave….anywhere.
And boy does she have a set of lungs. Might even be a future opera singer.
Which is usually why I don’t brave the public on my own…Gabe is better at tackling the flailing sprout. Happy Monday friends!

The new Wide Angle App is running a fun contest to win a Canon Rebel T4i! Yeah, worthy of entering!
You just have add a photo on Instagram or Twitter that includes you and add #WAALove, and email to: wideangle.com/contest. Full details here!

Shop Scoop: The Mini Social

March 8, 2013

{Oh Dear Drea – Mobiles // Love Mae – Wall decals and Dinner sets // Hazel Village Dolls Organic Cotton Woodland Creatures}

Like many of you, I rarely by items at retail price. I wait for the steal.

Maybe this is why I am a sucker for pop up deal shops…

The Mini Social started in 2008, was the first members site dedicated to bringing you designer apparel, gear, and toys specifically for mom, baby, and child with flash sales from indie shops and well known businesses. You can tell the site is carefully curated by women and moms who appreciate a unique and fun find. (I kind of squealed over the Hazel Village Dolls!)

You can check out their current deals here.

Enjoy and Happy weekend!

*This is a sponsored post which is %100 my own opinion.

Encourage Beauty: The smallest things take up the most room

March 7, 2013

{Quote by A.A. Milne, Design by IHOD}

Each week in March we want to give you a little inspiration boost for the Encourage Beauty Challenge. This was a quote that I dearly love, and applies so well to what this challenge is all about.

Hilary Rushford also has a favorite quote print to share on Dean Street Society. Its a good one.

I have to pass along a few stories of people joining us in #encouragebeauty.

In just one week I feel like my hope in humanity and the goodness of the human heart was restored through the actions some of you are taking to live this challenge out. So thank you for inspiring me to no end.

Sarah Tucker shared on instagram that she is writing a handwritten note each day to a friend to encourage beauty. 31 friends total in March.

Brittany shared a video that hade me re-thinking the way I approach people. Its the sweetest.

Emily and her family decided to take the next step to raise money for a charity close their heart.

My friend Elise is devoting a facebook status each day to a uplift a different woman in her life that has impacted her for the better.

These are just a few examples, and I can’t wait to see what else you all will do.

Thank you for joining Hilary and I in this project to use small deeds to make big change.

Love.

For newcomers, the Encourage Beauty launch post here.

Make//Wear .02 – Satin Scarf Bow Ties DIY

March 6, 2013

{image: Lily Jane Collins}

This is a DIY I have had in my inspiration folder for months, and finally got around to making a few. Its a fun and inexpensive way to add some color punches (take note: avoiding the word color pop) to your wardrobe. I bought a 1/4 yard of two different satin color fabrics. SEW OR NO SEW. The full instructions are in the graphic above and you can download full instructions here.

You can wear these two ways. The first version is demonstrated above, and the second is demonstrated in the inspiration photo above. I love both versions and would change it up depending on the occasion.

Hope you enjoy this, and as always, if you attempt it, please share your photos! Would love to see:)

Catch the most recent make//wear DIY here.

Family Threads vol. 2: Preparing for the family shift

March 4, 2013

Veronica // Dress and Shoes: Old Navy, Sweater: Baby Gap (consignment), Headband: made by me

Gabriel //Pants: Old Navy, Shirt: Childrens Place, Jacket: Baby Gap (similar), Shoes: Converse

Anna // Shirt: c/o Wendybox, Pants: Gap, Scarf: Deloom, Tote: c/o George Gina & Lucy, Lip color: Revlon

I think Veronica senses a baby coming.

She has been a mama’s girl lately. She just wants me to hold her more often, and gets an extra dimpled toothy grin whenever I devote undivided attention to her. She has become miss independent…so confident and proud whenever she tries something new. She wants to do everything her brother does and they are best buds. My heart is starting to ache a little more when I hold her and watch her grow.

I feel the time shifting, and I know I have to get ready to let go of the fact that she won’t be the baby much longer…

I went through this with Gabriel before she arrived. A short period of sadness knowing he would be my baby only for a few more months and that his little world would change. I cried many tears, mourned a little, and squeezed him extra tight. I remember vividly the strong emotion of saying goodbye as I dropped him off at my sisters before heading to the hospital to have his little sister…I felt the change of my first born son stepping into a new time in this all to fleeting life.

It is harder on me than it is for them, but what sweetens it all is seeing them now together…..how they greet each other in the morning with lots of kisses and hugs…..how Gabriel is makes sure Veronica has everything she needs and reassuring me he is “protecting his little sister”…. seeing Veronica pat his head and babble like Gabriel is her dear friend….he will attend her tea parties….she will play with his train station….and watching their daily dance parties go down in the family room. I see their lifetime of friendship unfolding and I am thankful.

As I get ready to bring a whole new life into our family, I accept the sadness as a side effect of my deep love for my sweet baby girl, and know that soon I will have reason to wonder how we ever did without this new one.